29.01.15
NHS England rejects two CSU bids to be included in provider framework
NHS England has rejected bids from two commissioning support units to be included in the Commissioning Support Lead Provider Framework, it is reported.
Yorkshire & Humber CSU and North West CSU, which serves CCGs in Cheshire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester, are both thought to have both denied accreditation to provide the full range of ‘end-to-end’ support services.
The two CSUs currently collectively serve 47 CCGs.
Bids from the seven other CSUs were successful, meaning that North of England CSU, South East CSU, Greater East Midlands and Arden CSU, Midlands and Lancashire CSU, North and East London CSU, South CSU & South West CSU and Central Southern CSU are all now accredited providers. As reported previously in NHE, the latter CSUs are soon to merge.
The results of non-NHS bids to be included in the framework have not been revealed, though two councils and private firms including Capita and UnitedHealth were invited to tender in August. The official announcement from NHS England is expected on 5 February, delayed from 30 January, and unsuccessful bidders can appeal in the meantime.
The Lead Provider Framework (LPF) is being established by NHS England to ensure that CCGs have a choice of quality assured support services. CSUs have spent the past year preparing and refining their bids for the scheme.
NHS England said: “Those appointed to the Framework will offer CCGs the choice of the best and most affordable services in the market, from large scale IT and back office providers that can deliver efficiencies and better quality, to smaller enterprises specialising in transformation, business intelligence and new contracting methods.
“The launch of the LPF will drive up quality and drive down price. We want this to look evolutionary. Using the LPF will support you with the skills, capability, new tools and practices to deliver your vision and that of the NHS Five Year Forward View.”
NHS England has also previously said that those CSUs that do not win accreditation do not have a viable future but it has not said what will happen to the two unsuccessful CSUs, or how it help those CCGs who currently rely on their services.
When approached for comment the two CSUs deferred to NHS England, who refused to comment while the process was ongoing.
A spokesperson said: “We want to offer commissioners greater choice and rapid access to a range of back-office support services that are high quality and cost-effective. The process to formally appoint providers to the Lead Provider Framework is ongoing and it would therefore be inappropriate to comment on speculation over which bidders have been successful at this stage. We will publish the outcome of these decisions in due course.”
Discussions are ongoing on the ‘autonomisation’ of the CSUs. NHS England suggested proposals last year under which each CSU would free itself from NHS England control and convert itself into either a social enterprise, a staff-owned mutual, a customer-controlled social enterprise, or a joint venture company limited by shares.
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